Cashier-protector



(No Model.) I W. MARTIN. CASHIER PROTECTORx No. 596,005. I

Patented De0.21, 1897.

awn newton WW witwwm I Mozmw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VERNER MARTIN, OF KEYSER, WEST VIRGINIA.

CASH'IER-PROTECDTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,005, dated December 21 1897.

Application filed July 3, 1897. Serial No. 643,453. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WERNER MARTIN, of Keyser, in the county of Mineral and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cashier-Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to adjustable armors I for bank-counters; and it consists,essentia1ly, of a series of vertically-adjustable metal plates having racks thereon adapted to enof construction and arrangement which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide means to prevent unwarranted and villainous attacks of persons with criminal intent and to shield a cashier or other bank officer against personal injury or assault.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a counter with the improved adjustable armor applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line was of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is arear elevation of thecounter, showing parts thereof broken away.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a counter of any preferred form of construction and having a series of window-openings 2, in which are placed plates of glass and shielded by a metallic grating which will have the usual form of passageway at the lower portion. The window-openings are intersected and closed on opposite sides by uprights or posts 3, which extend downwardly through the counter to the base thereof and are provided with opposing grooves 4, in which the opposite edges of ad- 3' ustable armor-plates 5 have movement. The said armor-plates when not in use are concealed in the lower portion of the counter by being depressed and have extending vertically thereover in the center thereof in each instance a rack 6, which is in continual engagement with a pinion 7, fixed on the shaft 8.

The said shaft at one end also has a ratchetwheel 9 mounted thereon, which is engaged by a pawl 10, and to the latter is attached the upper end of a connecting-rod 11, secured at its lower end to one side of a pivoted treadlever12. Under the end of the tread-lever 12 to which the connecting-rod is secured a coiled or other spring 13 bears against the bottom of the tread-lever in order to throw the latter upward and cause an automatic engagement of the pawl 10 with the ratchet-wheel 9. On the opposite end of the shaft 8 is fixed the inner end of a winding-spring 14, confined by a bracket let and having its opposite end attached to an adjacent part of the end of the counter. When the armor-plates 5 are depressed, the rack 6 thereon winds the spring 14, and by depressing the foot-bar '12 to release the pawl 10 from the ratchet-wheel 9 the shaft 7 is rotated by the resilient efiort of the said spring, thereby automatically throwing the armor-plates upwardly to close the window-openings. The said armor-plates have their upper ends bentat an angle, as at 15, to lie flush with the top of the counter, and, if desired, the shaft 7 can be operated by a crank to lower the plates and at the same time wind the spring; but for ordinary purposes the plates 5 are adapted to be lowered by hand and attain the same result. said plates 5 are locked down and held depressed so long as the pawl 10 engages the ratchet-wheel 9.

Should improper persons approach the windows equipped with the automatically-operating armor, as setforth, with criminal intent, a person standing behind the windows can depress the tread-lever and cause the plates 5 to suddenly rise automatically, thereby closing the window-openings and shielding those behind the windows from danger. By the use of grating over the front portions of the windows insertion of any implement therein will be prevented in order to defeat the operation of the vertically-sliding plates.

At one end of the counter is an angular projection 16, comprising an outer post 17, with a groove 18 on the inner portion thereof, alining with a similar groove 19 in one of the end window posts or uprights 3. Extending from one groove to another is a strip of wood 20, above and below which are pieces of sheet- Of course the steel 21 and 22, engaging the grooves 19, the upper piece 21 ,havinga series of openings23 therein for insertion of the end of a barrel of a firearm, and thereby provide means for the safe use of firearms and a concealed attack upon a burglar or other person with criminal intent. The piece of Wood 20, engaging the grooves 18 and 19 and interposed between the steel pieces 21 and 22, may also be used for a similar purpose; but for ordinary uses the upper perforations will be employed. Thus it will be seen that a safe and convenient form of bank-counter will be provided, and the parts may be slightly changed, if desired, Without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is'claime d asvnew isrl. The combination With a counter having guides in connection with the Window-openin gs thereof, of a series of vertically-adjustablearmor-plates provided with racks on the innersurfaces thereof,a spring-actuated shaft having pinions thereon engaging the said racks, and means forreleasing the shaft to automatically operate the said armor-plates,

2. The combination with a counter having slots therein and grooves in opposite portions.

of the Window-posts or uprights, of a series of vertically-adjustable armor-plates having racks on the inner side thereof, a shaft engaged by a spring having pinions thereon to engage said racks, a ratchet on said shaft, a pawl engaging said ratchet, a link connected to the pawl, a foot-rod to one end of which the lower end of the link is secured, a-spring bearing against one portion of the foot-rod, and an angular projection at one end of the counter for the purpose set forth, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of twosnbscribing witnesses.

WERNER MARTIN.

Witnesses:

T. A. FIFER, O. F. VEsT. 

